Create a new file

To create a new file, go to the File menu and click on the New command.

This command opens the window for creating a new file. From the same window you can access all available templates. We recommend that you start from an existing template and customize it with your data. The window that appears offers the possibility to create a new file in three different ways:

Please note: those who have subscribed to the Professional plan of Banana Accounting Plus, while creating a new file, see the message: Active plan: Professional Plan. The functions of the Advanced Plan are available up to 70 transaction rows. This message can be ignored and automatically disappears once the 70 transaction rows are exceeded.

Start with one of our templates

This will generate a new File based on one of the existing templates. There are multiple templates suitable for every legal form and business.

According to the selected Region, the models available in the language of the nation are displayed. The image shows the templates in English language for Switzerland.

New file with Banana Accounting+

  • File menu > New
  • In the Region field, select your country/language
  • In the Category field, select your activity's category (business, private, non profit, ...)
  • In the Type field, choose the type of file you want to create (Cash Manager, income/expense accounting, double-entry accounting, ...)
  • You can also search for a template by entering a keyword in the Filter by box.
  • On the right side of the window, select the template that most closely matches your needs.
  • Click on the file and confirm with the Create button to open the selected template.

All the files with the VAT option have the VAT Codes table adjusted to the new rates.
The chart of accounts can be adapted to your requirements (change of account description, insert or delete groups, sub-groups, etc.)

Save the file with a name

Once you have opened the template with Banana you can save it with your own name by choosing the File menu > Save as command:

  • Select the destination folder
    It is useful to create an “Accounting” folder for each year, so that you can save the accounting file and also the documents for that year. We recommend that you also consult the page Organize your work.
  • Select a file name. We recommend a name containing the company name and the accounting year (for example smith_company_2025).
  • The software will add the .ac2 extension, typical for the Banana Accounting files.

Adapting a template

  1. Edit the File properties
  2. Adapt your Chart of accounts
    • Enter your bank accounts.
    • Enter or edit the accounts to fit it to your requirements.
      While going along with your work, you will still be able to add or edit accounts, if new needs arise.

Start with a Tutorial

Tutorials are existing templates, which contain within them example accounting data (opening balances, entries, budgets, ...). A tutorial is not available for all templates.

The tutorial files are useful for understanding how to structure accounting within a certain template. The example data entered are for demonstration purposes only and can be changed, deleted or replaced with your own data at any time.

When you select a template and it has a tutorial file, the button Create from Tutorial automatically appears next to the template detail description.

Nuovo file partendo da un Tutorial

Start from an existing File

Starting from an existing file or template, without modifying the existing file.

New file starting from a template in Banana Accounting+

There are several possibilities to copy data:

  • Open the file that is to be your template via the Browse button and indicate the path to locate your file.
  • Create a copy of the open file, using the File > Save As command.
  • Else, you may create a copy of the open file via the Tools > Create File Copy command. Choose which data to keep in the dialog window. If none of the three options are activated, a file is created with the chart of accounts only.

Copy options from file in Banana Accounting+

  • Save the file in the folder where you wish to keep the data (normally in the documents folder). Enter the company name and the accounting year as file name, for example smith_company_xxxx.ac2.
  • If you are taking over an existing accounting file, you will also need to enter the opening balances in the Opening column.
  • If you are working in a multi-currency file, you need to update the opening exchange rates.

Starting from a new empty file

You will be starting from scratch, so you will need to set up the basic accounting data and the entire Chart of Accounts (not recommended).

New empty file in Banana Accounting+

  • Menu File > New.
  • Select your country/language
  • Select your category
  • Select your Accounting template
  • On the bottom of the list click on New empty.
  • Setup the Outline to create new file

Outline to create a new file in Banana Accounting+

Related documents

Transferring to a new year

When transferring to a new year, there is a specific procedure to follow, in order to create a new year's file and automatically carry forward the opening balances.

New file settings

When the program creates a file with new characteristics, you need to setup the outline of the new file.

Outline to create new file

Outline to create a new file in Banana Accounting+

Language

The language used for the columns headers of the various tables.

Decimals and rounding 

Decimal points for amounts

In order to avoid accounting differences, the number of decimal points for the amounts is fixed for each file. Two decimal points are normally used, but there are currencies where decimal points are not required so 0 needs to be inserted.

For other currencies that use multiple decimals such as the Tunisian Dinar or crypto currencies such as Bitcoin (9 decimal places), Ethereum (18 decimal places) the appropriate number must be indicated.
Accounting can be managed with amounts of up to 27 decimal places.

Decimal points for amounts in foreign currency

When using a multi-currency accounting, the number of decimals for the amounts in foreign currency must be defined. For example, if the accounting is in EUR and you are managing crypto currencies such as Ethereum, you must enter 18.
Generally, the number of decimals must not be less than the number of decimals in the base currency.

Rounding type

The rounding is applied to amounts with decimals that go beyond the set number of decimals.
If 2 decimals are set, this is the type used to round the digits over two decimals.
Depending on the methods used, the following amounts: 1.005; 1,015; 1,025; 1,035 will be rounded in a different way.

  • Commercial/Arithmetic (Half up) rounding to the next whole number: 1.01; 1.02; 1.03; 1.04.. In accounting, this is most commonly used.
  • Banking (Half average) rounding up or down towards the nearest even number: 1.01; 1.02; 1.03; 1.04.

Functionalities to be included

For more information on the functions to be included see:

Address fields in accounts table

When this option is activated, the Address view is created in the Accounts table. In this view, the user can enter the addresses of clients, suppliers and members.

Budget Table

When this option is activated a Budget Table is created, where the user can enter his budget transactions.

Accounting files, in different languages can thus be created, and with different decimal points. In order to change the language or the decimal points once the accounting file has been created, the accounting type must be converted via Tools  → Convert to new file  from the menu.

 

Accounting with multiple languages

With Banana Accounting Plus, you can create accounting files in different languages, and present the Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement in the language you need.
The available languages are: English, Italian, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch.

multilanguage software

The different languages

  • Program language
    The one used for the interface, menu dialogues, etc.
    You can change it from the Tools menu → Program options.
    See red box 1 and 3 in the image above.
  • Documentation in different languages
    You have a complete documentation in different languages, easily accessible by clicking on the help button.
  • Accounting file language
    When you create an accounting file, the columns are set in the creation language.
    See red box 2 in the image above.
  • The language of the column and table header
    You can change it at your convenience. For example, instead of using the term VAT, you can use the abbreviation that best suits your country's requirement.
  • The content in any language
    In the cells you can enter texts in any language.
  • Additional columns for other languages.
    You can add columns to have the Balance Sheet and the Profit & Loss Statement in different languages. You can create columns for other languages in the Transactions table and also in all other tables.
  • Views in different languages
    You can easily switch between different languages and just print the output in the desired language.
  • Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement in different languages
    You can customize the printout, and just choose to show the required columns in the final reports.

How to change the file creation language

Each document on Banana Accounting Plus is a separate file. The language of the file is separate from that of the program and is defined when the file is created. (File menu → New).

Column names and headers are assigned at the time the file is created, the creation language is then used.

cambiare lingua file

To change the language of the file and columns, you need to re-create a new file:

  • From the Tools menu → Convert to new file command
  • In the open dialog box, select the file type equivalent to your existing file and click OK
  • In the next window choose the new language of the file and the type of rounding, then click OK

The program creates a new file identical to your previous one, with the new language settings. This new file must be saved with a new name.

Change the current language of the file

The current language is the one the program uses to display the wordings, such as "Opening balance" in the account card or the dates in the reports.
Normally, it will be the same as the creation language, but it may be changed in File properties → Other.

Change the column headings

You can change the column header with the Data menu → Columns setup.

Add columns for different languages

In the Accounts table and also in the other tables (Transactions, VAT codes), you can add additional columns where you can enter the descriptions in other languages.

  • From the Data menu →Tables setup → Add new column  command
  • Use the name of the language (e.g. German, Chinese, etc.) as the column name.
  • In the newly created columns, for each row, complete the description in the language that has been added.

Create Views for each language

Create a view for each language to have printout only with the desired language.

  • Data menu → Tables setup command
  • Create a View for each language.
    In each table you can have different views for different languages, or the views that include columns of different languages.
  • Customize your printout in the language you require. If you want to print in different languages you can create one Customization print for each language so you don't have to change the settings each time, but have them already set up.

Enhanced Balance Sheet for each language

Once you've added the language column to the Accounts table, you can have it appear in the Enhanced Balance Sheet report as well.

The predefined texts of the report (date etc.) are displayed in the current accounting language. It may be necessary to change the current language from time to time.

Extensions

If you have specific needs in different languages, they can be programmed as Extensions.